Peter D. Kramer, The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News
11:28 p.m. EDT September 22, 2015
Maryknoll Sister Noel Divine will attend Pope Francis' vesper service on Thursday at St. Patrick's Cathedral, thanks to a social-media campaign.(Photo: Maryknoll Sisters)
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — She asked. She prayed. She Facebooked.
And her prayers — and her friends' savvy use of social media — were answered.
At 88, Sister Noel Devine, a 70-year member of the Maryknoll Sisters, told her friends in Ossining that her bucket list included wanting to meet Pope Francis during the pontiff's visit this week.
Actually, she wanted him to come to her, in Ossining.
Friends started a Facebook campaign that went viral, reaching more than 100,000 people. Their support and prayers, the sister said, secured her a glimpse of the pope.
While the globe-trotting pontiff won't make the trip up to Westchester County, he did invite Sister Noel to attend his evening vespers service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Thursday.
Sister Noel spent her entire life helping others as a school teacher in Chicago and Hong Kong. In 1998 speech difficulties brought her back to the Ossining. She was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis — a rare disease affecting the movement of arms, legs and face. She uses a digital tablet to communicate.
“I am on cloud nine,” Sister Noel wrote Tuesday.
Watch a video of Sister Noel here.
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Pope Francis makes his way into D.C. in Fiat
Pope Francis greeted by Obama family after landing
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Pope Francis Departs Cuba for U.S.
See the weirdest Pope memorabilia you can buy
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Navy ship bunks made available to papal pilgrims
Priest inspired by Pope John Paul II knows power of papal visit
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The Pope is coming to America, and it's really expensive
Lutheran mayor has no idea why he gets to see Pope Francis
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Get a sneak peek of Pope Francis' first visit to U.S.
The Pope and Presidents, a history of meetings
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These kindergartners may know more about the Pope than you
The Pope is visiting this historic Philadelphia church
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Pope Francis will visit these 4 U.S. churches
Congress Prepares to Welcome Pope Francis
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Pope Francis: 'See you in Philadelphia.'
Pope Francis to visit Catholic Charities' clients
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Pope visiting historic Catholic church in D.C.
Pope visiting largest Catholic church in North America
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Congress Prepares to Welcome Pope Francis
Pope visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC
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